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Rolling Stones unreleased: Gangster’s Moll

Hidden in the vaults of The Rolling Stones, Gangster’s Moll reveals a side of the band fans rarely hear. Recorded during the 1979 Emotional Rescue sessions in Boulogne-Billancourt, this unreleased track captures Mick Jagger not just as frontman, but as studio director—audibly guiding the band through scales before delivering his vocal take. It’s a striking contrast to Keith Richards’ instinctive approach. With a catchy country-flavored lick and Ronnie Wood’s subtle pedal steel weaving through the mix, the song brims with late-’70s swagger. More than a lost outtake, Gangster’s Moll offers a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Stones’ creative chemistry and untapped gems.

Written by: Jagger/Richards
Recorded: EMI Pathé Marconi Studios, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Jun. 10-Oct. 19 1979 (Emotional Rescue sessions)

From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012:
Mick Jagger can be heard directing Gangster’s Moll, uttering the different scales for the band to play before a proper vocal take, something you would never hear Keith Richards doing. He would have got there intuitively. It has quite a catchy country ‘lick’ and could have made the grade to an official release. “You can see the whole wide world as a gangster’s mistress moll“. Ron Wood can be heard in the background on pedal steel.

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Behind the Scenes of a Lost Gem: Gangster’s Moll

During the Emotional Rescue sessions in 1979 at EMI Pathé Marconi Studios in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, The Rolling Stones recorded a track that never quite made the official cut: Gangster’s Moll. Written by Jagger/Richards, this unreleased song captures a unique moment of creative direction rarely heard on their records. Mick Jagger can be heard coaching the band through different scales, carefully shaping the sound before laying down his vocals—a rare glimpse into his hands-on approach, contrasting with Keith Richards’s intuitive style. The song carries a catchy country vibe, highlighted by Ronnie Wood’s pedal steel guitar weaving subtly in the background. With bold lyrics, the track paints a vivid narrative full of attitude and swagger, hinting that it could have easily found its place on the album.

A Glimpse Into the Rolling Stones’ Creative Process

Unlike Keith Richards, who often trusts his instincts, Mick’s vocal takes on the song reveal his precision and leadership in the studio. The song’s blend of country influences and rock swagger offers a fresh flavor for the band’s late ‘70s sound. Though left unreleased, Gangster’s Moll showcases the Stones experimenting and pushing their musical boundaries, reminding us that even the world’s greatest rock band has hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.

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